NGA in Focus – May 2026

May 4, NGA hosted its annual Spring Networking Reception in Washington, D.C. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen offered welcoming remarks, encouraging attendees to think about making a positive impact on future generations, and thanking author Amanda Ripley for attending the reception to sign copies of her book "High Conflict." Gov. Pillen shared Ms. Ripley met with governors at the 2026 NGA Winter Meeting, noting her work provides tools to help Americans "think about how we can communicate to people that disagree with us or think differently."

NGA Chair Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and NGA CEO Brandon Tatum joinedleaders of the nation's seven principal state and local government organizations in Oklahoma City for a historic State and Local Leadership Summit focused on the future of American federalism and intergovernmental collaboration. Gov. Stitt hosted the convening that focused on ways the Big Seven can advance federalism and the nation's democratic principles.

NGA held the 2026 Broadband Leaders Workshop in Alexandria, Virginia, April 20-22. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger addressed state broadband leaders, federal officials, internet service providers and other tech leaders during the event, sharing "Connecting the unconnected across America is an essential mission that will change the trajectory of the communities that you all serve."

Officials from 34 states and territories participated in the convening to share best practices to help close the digital divide and implement programs such as the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, a federal grant program that aims to connect every American to high-speed internet.

Representatives from the National Governor's Association and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Outbreak Response Innovation convened on Guam the week of April 27 for a three-day symposium with health and emergency response officials from Guam and the Pacific. Members of the NGA and Johns Hopkins teams met with Acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio (pictured) during the meeting. Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero posted, "Today more than ever public health emergencies require rapid response coordination and clear lines of communications to make timely, life saving decisions. Preparedness issues will also be on the agenda for the meetings."

NGA continues to partner with the military and veteran family support organization Blue Star Families to create the "Do Your Part" toolkit to help states advance policies, programs, and partnerships to strengthen support for military and veteran-connected families. NGA Vice Chair Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox chair the Do Your Part committee to champion state-level solutions for military families. Deseret News published an op-ed the governors wrote about the need to support military families, writing "that uplifting our military families isn't a partisan issue, it's a patriotic imperative."

NGA hosted its final SNAP Employment and Training Policy Academy the week of April 27, following more than two years of work with states to strengthen SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs. Participants (pictured) convened in Annapolis, Maryland, to exchange peer-to-peer insights on state action plans, explore strategies to strengthen cross-agency and provider partnerships, and develop plans to remove barriers to E&T service delivery.

NGA Chair Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Vice Chair Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued a statement regarding Saturday's shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. The statement reads, "Violence is unacceptable. In moments like this, we are reminded that unity, civility, and respect for one another matter more than ever."

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